Kapito retreats on JB’s resignation: ‘Few months left to Malawi poll’

Officials of the consumers rights body, Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) have withdrawn a call for the resignation of President Joyce Banda contained in their petition presented last week to government authorities after their demonstrations in the capital, Lilongwe.

In the petition the protesters pushed for formation of an inclusive care-taker government that would oversee the government’s administration issues until 2014 elections.

They claimed President Banda had failed to govern the country citing the ongoing plundering of public finances by the workers at Capital Hill, a seat of government.

Speaking during Tiuzeni Zoona program on Sunday aired on privately owned Zodiak Broadcasting Station, CAMA’s Executive Director John Kapito said they have decided to backtrack from the demand because there are only few months left before election and her resignation would complicate issues.

Kapito: Lets wait for elections

He however said this does not mean that he is happy with the way President Banda is governing the country.

“The problem is that she is busy instructing the police on what to do on its investigations into the issues of plundering of public finances. I am fully aware that our police service is professional so she should leave it alone to conduct its duties without instructions from her. That’s where we have a problem because we don’t know the role which the president is playing in the course of investigations,” he alleged.

But Police chief Loti Dzonzi said they are carrying their investigation professionally and without political manipulation.

Kapito trashed the President’s claims that the arrest of those involved in public money theft is a breakthrough as the graft started with previous administrations.

“We are not talking about the past, we are talking about the money that have been stolen right now. We need to know how has the public finances are found in people’s homes and cars. She should not be brainwashing us by talking about the past.”

He said if president Banda is maintaining that even the past government was stealing the money she should know that those people who were in previous government are the same people who are in her government now.

“We know that most of the government officials in her government have also served in United Democratic Front (UDF) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administrations so when she says the stealing has been there during previous administration is she talking about parties or people who were in the parties. She should not confuse us and put us away from the real issues,” he said.

Kapito said although there are some areas where President Banda has done well he cannot waste his time commending her for “doing a task which she was employed to do. I will be coming in when she is doing a bad job just like what the employer is supposed do with an employee.”

Kapito had also no kind words towards the opposition leaders whom he said have failed big time to shape the country into the right direction.

“This makes one wonder what sort of leaders are they going to be if they are failing to give constructive advice to the government on issues of national interest,” he said.

Up to 10 government officials have been arrested – including one who kept $25,000 at home and another who stashed banknotes in a car boot.

They have been charged with money laundering, misuse of public office and corruption.

Nine senior police officers were each jailed for 14 years last month for their roles in a $164,000 fraud.

Paul Mphwiyo, a budget officer in the Ministry of Finance who was seen as an anti-corruption crusader, was shot and seriously injured last month in an apparent effort to silence him.